Stock-Based Compensation and Common Stock - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Feb. 19, 2015	Apr. 02, 2014	Jan. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013	May. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued		5,750,000		80,536,377		79,388,069
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.001		$ 0.001		$ 0.001
Share price (in dollars per share)		$ 11.00		$ 2.77	$ 10.98
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock		$ 59,300		$ 183	$ 7,427
Incremental cost of exchange program	$ 500
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unvested PSUs							100,000
Number of stock units granted under performance-based restricted stock units				0
Options to purchase common stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Threshold exercise price for conversion (in dollars per share)			$ 6.79
Exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 2.58
Shares granted	2,745,279
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of warrants granted								500,000
Warrant exercise price per share								$ 7.17
Warrant shares vested				191,666
Warrant vesting period				5 years
Solazyme Bunge JV
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of warrants granted									1,000,000
Warrant exercise price per share									$ 13.50
Warrant shares vested				750,000
Canceled warrant shares				250,000
Minimum | Options to purchase common stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Warrant vesting period	10 months
Maximum | Options to purchase common stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Warrant vesting period	4 years